On January 25, Princeton Public Schools passed a $17.5 million facilities referendum with many goals, including the repairing and refurbishing of the current roofing at Princeton High School as well as the roofs of other schools across the district.

“Most [roofs] have a life of usually around 20 to 25 years,” said Matthew Bouldin, PPS Business Administrator.

“One of the best ways to fund projects like [repairing them] is through referendums.”

The referendum also aims to help the school become more eco-friendly moving into the future.“Hopefully, [the referendum would] also lay the groundwork to make [the roofs] solar panels ready,” said Frank Chmiel, PHS Principle.The current referendum is aimed specifically at roofing across the district. However, repairing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment is also of concern for the district.

“On the roof, equipment takes a lot of wear and tear,” said Bouldin. “In general, any kind of mechanical system like that doesn’t have an endless life, unfortunately.”

While past referendum projects such as the fitness center have been more oriented towards students than teachers, the current referendum aims to help both groups. By fixing the roofs of the high school, teachers will be able to teach without having to worry about inconveniences such as water leaks during rainfalls.“

Because we have flat roofs, snow collects up there, [and] rain could collect up there,” said Chmiel. “So, there are just spots where our custodial staff [expects] leaks to happen.”

Unlike past facilities projects, completing the current roofing project will be no small task. This is because roofs are very difficult to repair, and require that all construction will have to be completed when students aren’t in class. Matthew Chen and Anika Hadap,CONTRIBUTING WRITERS“Roofs are uniquely difficult, and that work has to be done in the summer,” said Bouldin. “It’s going to be at least three summers, at least, maybe possibly four summers.”

Difficulty in repairing roofs was not the only challenge facing this referendum, though. Like most activities and projects over the past few years, the pandemic has hindered facilities repairs. Multiple hired contractors getting COVID-19 was an obstacle, causing a setback in both construction and equipment supply. Luckily though, the construction was not significantly slowed by these setbacks.“

Roofing installation has been under a little bit of short supply over the last 12 months,” said Bouldin. “But COVID luckily hasn’t had a huge negative impact, at least on the work we have been doing.”

Despite the obstacles and setbacks that will inevitably come, in the end, the referendum will benefit both the district and the school community. Bouldin believes the final result will be worth the wait for the students and teachers.“

[The referendum] will help students live and learn in a better environment,” Bouldin said.